Hong The Currier

"In the time when the Justice of Heaven was actively employed with the
affairs of the earth, one of my ancestors had an adventure to which we
owe our present fortune, and of which few men of to-day have seen the
equal."

Thus began my friend Hong; reclining on the red cushions of the big
couch, he fanned himself gracefully with an ivory fan painted all over.

"Our family, as you know, originally came from the town of
The-Black-chain in the province of The-Foaming-rivers. Our ancestor Hong
The-just was a currier by trade; he cut and scraped the skins that were
entrusted to him. His family was composed only of his wife, who helped
him as well as she could.

"Notwithstanding this persistent labour, they were very poor; no
furniture ornamented the three rooms in the small house that they hired
in the Street-of-the-golden-flowers.

"When the last days of the twelfth moon in that year arrived, they found
they were owing six strings of copper cash to ten different creditors.
With all they possessed, there only remained 400 cash. What were they to
do? They reflected for a long time. Hong The-just at last said to his
wife:

"'Take these 400 cash; you will be able to buy rice to live on. As to
me, as I cannot pay my debts before the first day of the first moon, I
am going to leave the town and hide myself in the mountain. My
creditors, not seeing me, will believe you when you tell them that I
have been to find money in the neighbouring town. Once the first day of
the first moon passed, as law ordains to wait till the following term,
I shall then come back, and we shall continue to live as well as we
can.'

"It was indeed the wisest thing to do. His wife made him a parcel of a
blanket and a few dry biscuits. She wept at seeing him go away quite
bent, walking with difficulty on the slippery flagstones of the street.

"The snow was falling in thick flakes and already covered the grey tiled
roofs, when Hong The-just left the city gate and directed his steps to a
cave that he knew of in a lonely valley.

"He arrived at last, and, throwing his heavy load on the ground, he
glanced around him in order to choose the place where he would sleep.

"An exclamation of stupor escaped from him when he saw, seated
motionless on a stone, a man clothed in a long sable cloak, with a cap
of the same fur, looking at him in a mournful, indifferent way.

"'How strange!' at last said Hong, laughing. 'Dare I ask your noble
name and the reason that brings you to this remote refuge? How is it
that you are not with your friends, drinking hot wine and rejoicing in
the midst of the luxuriance of the tables covered with various eatables
and brilliant lights?'

"'My name is Yang Glow-of-dawn. And you, what is your precious name?'
replied mechanically the first occupant.

"'I am called Hong The-just, and I am here to escape from my creditors.'

"'You, also?' sneered Glow-of-dawn. 'The strokes of Fate do not vary
much. As for me, I deal in European goods; my correspondents have not
settled my accounts and I am in want of nearly a hundred thousand ounces
of silver to close the year. None of my friends could advance me the
sum, and here I am, obliged to fly away from my creditors.'

"'A hundred thousand ounces!' cried The-just. 'With a sum like that I
should pass the rest of my days in plenty. Anyhow, struck by the same
misfortune, we are thus united; let us try to pass cheerfully the last
day of the year, and attempt to imagine that these humble cakes are
refined food.'

"When they were eating their pastry and drinking water from the near
torrent, Glow-of-dawn suddenly said:

"'But you, how much do you owe? I have here a few ounces of silver;
maybe you could balance your accounts with them.'

"'My debts do not exceed six strings of copper cash. But how could I
dare accept your offer?'

"'Not at all! take these ten ounces; you will pay your debts and bring
me here food and wine; that will help me to wait till the end of the
festivals.'

"The-just, reiterating his thanks, took the ingots that were offered him
and went down as quickly as possible towards the town.

"His wife, on seeing him and hearing his story, could not restrain her
joy. She hurried to go and buy provisions of all kinds. Her husband
tried to light the stove, but they had not lit a fire for a long time;
he found the chimney filled with soot and dust.

"Hong tried to sweep it with a big broom, but the masonry gave way,
filling the room with the bricks and rubbish.

"'How very annoying!' grumbled the currier. 'Now the stove is destroyed
let us take away what remains, and we will make the fire beneath the
opening in the roof!'

"When his wife returned, he was still working. She put down her basket
and helped to raise a huge stone that formed the bottom of the hearth.
What was their astonishment in seeing a chest, half-broken, from which
big ingots of gold were falling!

"'What are we to do with this?' said his wife. 'If we sell this gold,
everybody will think that we have stolen it, and we shall be put in
prison.'

"'We have only one thing to do,' replied Hong. 'Let us entrust our
fortune to my companion in the cave; he is a good man. We shall save
him, and he will make our money prosper; I will hurry and tell him.'

"When Hong arrived, it was nearly nightfall; Yang was standing under
flakes of snow at the entrance of the grotto; he received him with
reproaches:

"'You have come so late that my eyes are sore in looking out for you in
vain!'

"'Do not abuse me, Old Uncle; drink this wine and eat these cakes that
are still warm, and I will tell you what delayed me.'

"And while Glow-of-dawn ate and drank, the other told him of his
adventure and of his intentions about the treasure.

"Surprised and touched, the merchant did not know how to express his
wonder and gratitude. They talked over the best way of proceeding to
bring the gold and settle the business.

"Then, by the glimmer of a bad lantern, they returned to the town and
entered the merchant's house. There the currier washed himself, did his
hair, and clothed himself in rich garments. A sedan-chair was waiting
for him, followed by sturdy servants; he went away....

"The next day Glow-of-dawn's creditors presented themselves at the house
of their debtor. He was standing at the entrance, and bowed in wishing
them a thousand times happiness. They entered; tea was brought in by
busy servants. They at last discussed the settlement of their yearly
accounts. The master of the house found out that he owed 180,000 ounces
of silver.

"'We have been informed that larger sums of silver are due to you, but
you know the custom; you must settle everything to-day. In order to save
you, we are content to make an estimate of your wealth, your goods and
lands.'

"'Do not give yourselves such a trouble,' replied the merchant, laughing
and waving his hand. 'I thought you would be relentless, so I have been
to speak to my elder brother, who has an immense fortune; he has put at
my disposal several hundred thousand ounces. But here! I hear the cry of
the bearers; it must be him with the chests of white metal.'

"The major domo came hurrying in, carrying high in the air the huge red
card with the names and surnames written in black.

"'The venerable Old Great Uncle The-just has arrived!'

"'Allow me?' said Yang, getting up, and going towards the door, of which
both sides were open. Hong entered. They made each other a thousand
affectionate greetings, as all brothers do who are animated with right
feelings.

"'Dear elder brother! here are the gentlemen who have come for the
settlement of my accounts about which I spoke to you.'

"'Gentlemen!' and the currier bowed, not without a certain grace that
his new fortune had already given him. 'Well! how much is the total
amount? I have brought you ten thousand ounces of gold, which is nearly
350,000 ounces of silver. Will you have enough?'

"While he was speaking, bearers were trooping in, and laid down on the
ground heavy chests, the lids of which being raised, one could see the
bars of precious metal.

"The merchants, thunderstruck by all these riches and generosity,
remained silent for a moment; then they bowed low and bade the currier
sit in the place of honour.

"Many delicate and exquisite dishes were brought in of which The-just
did not even know the names; sweet wines were handed round in small
transparent china cups.

"At last the secretaries counted the ingots, and they all returned home
paid. When every one had retired, Glow-of-dawn knelt before the currier
and, striking the earth with his forehead, he said:

"'Now you are my elder brother. You have rescued me, and I henceforth
wish you to live here. My house, my properties, everything I possess
belongs to you. Your wife is my sister-in-law.'

"The currier hurried to raise him up and, much moved, said:

"'I do not forget that it is you who saved me when you were still in
misfortune. Your good genius has rewarded you. I am only the instrument
of Fate.'"